British gangster films always have a magic to them that American
productions seem to lack -- a charm or luster like no other.
Maybe itÃ­s the sharp tongue accents or the quirky dialogue.
Either way, they make for an entertaining time. Don't get me
wrong, Martin Scorsese wrote the book on mob films with Goodfellas or Francis Ford Coppola's classic Godfather
movies but the Brits have done it with different flair. Darren
Ward's A Day of Violence is similar to stuff like Sexy
Beast, The Krays, and even Snatch more or
less. ItÃ­s also brought director Darren WardÃ­s love for the
Italian gangster sub-genre, like Fulci's Contraband, by
adding over-the-top violence. A Day of Violence lives up
to its title and is a brilliant fitting name for the film.

Ward has done a predecessor film, titled Sudden Fury, and
plans to do a third film after A Day of Violence, titled
Beyond Fury. He also has a collection of his short films
available, titled Three Tickets to Hell. Ward fills his
films with savage action, wit and gruesome special effects. He
makes entertaining popcorn munching good time flicks -- thatÃ­s
if your idea of a good time is watching a man hung upside down
getting his junk graphically cut off with a set of gardening
shears.

A Day of Violence focuses on small time mob debt collector Mitchell (Nick
Rendell), who kills a scumbag named Hopper (Giovanni Lombardo
Radice of City of the Living Dead, Cannibal Apocalypse
and Cannibal Ferox fame) on a routine debt collection.
The job turns into a complete cluster fuck when Mitchell finds
100K at Hoppers place. Mitchell decides to take the money but
soon finds out getting away with it is not going to be an easy
feat as it unknowingly belongs to his new boss, crazed sadistic
gangster Curtis Boswell (Victor D Thorn). Now Mitchell has
gotten in way over his head. How many people will pay the price
around him before Karma comes calling for him?

The film has a good acting performance from lead Nick Rendell.
He's a scumbag himself but still somewhat likable in the
cesspool of unsavory characters in this. Mob boss Boswell has a
humorous over-the-top role, almost a little too campy at times.
You don't know whether you should fear him, as he's having
people tortured, or laugh at his ranting. There is a lot of
gruesome make-up effects work in this one and itÃ­s done very
well. We get that aforementioned total genital annihilation
scene which will have men wincing, lots of stabbings, throat
slitting and squib splattering mayhem. Rendell's character,
Mitchell, takes one of the most vicious face beatings on film.
He becomes deformed, with savage make-up work here as well. No
gangster movie would be complete without a climatic shootout at
a club where no regard for innocent patrons is shown, and
innocent bystanders are gunned down without mercy. The cover of
the film shows one of Boswells gangsters named Chisel (named
because he tortures a girl by extracting her teeth with a chisel
tool), holding a chainsaw, and I was hoping for some gruesome
chainsaw violence but was unfortunately let down.

A Day of Violence is an entertaining indie gangster roller coaster. It was cool
seeing John Morghen (Radice) in a small but great role too. The
guy is a quite the character with a big personality, it seems,
on and off the screen. This DVD from 101 Films also features a
great making of segment where we get to see the movie magic
happen. Ward has passion for this genre and it shows. He pours
his hard work and dedication into it. Contact
Darren
Ward on Facebook
and order Sudden Fury, Three Tickets to Hell and
A Day of Violence, and look out for
Beyond Fury
when itÃ­s released.